An invitation to an open rehearsal of Mercadante’s Don Chisciotte

In preparation for our high profile event on 30 April at Leighton House, we invite you to join us behind-the-scenes! Observe a portion of a working rehearsal, with Opera Holloway’s conductor Lewis Gaston and five young singers as they bring to life this UK premiere of a bel canto opera which has no regular performing tradition and has only been resurrected once in the last few years!

See first hand how they overcome decisions and dilemmas that, as performers, they rarely encounter when rehearsing the works of other composers. Armed only with egos, opinions and aesthetic judgements, this is an opportunity to be a fly on the wall as we start with a blank canvas in preparation for our lecture recital performance later in the month.

Paola has been passionate about Rossini from a very young age, so you can imagine her excitement when she first discovered it was something she might be able to sing. From trying to tackle _Una voce...

This lecture discusses one of Verdi's most famous operas, Il trovatore. Usually dismissed because of its silly, intricate and over-the-top plot, Il trovatore is one of Verdi's musically more inspired...

This morning's lecture examines Puccini's masterpiece and Leoncavallo's version published only a year apart. Puccini's well-loved work has found long-lasting fame and is part of the staple repertoire...